The Second Coming
Peter mentions the second coming in every chapter except 3.
1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
The appearing of Jesus Christ. This is not a mere doctrine to be believed. We are eagerly waiting for the appearing of Jesus Christ because when he appears salvation will be revealed, and we will receive the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.
1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow – the glory that should follow refers to Christ, when he will appear in glory and power. And we are included in this glory, we will share it with him. This is salvation.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ – Amen! We have not received it all now. There is grace yet to come, the grace of the salvation of our souls. So his exhortation: gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by [your] good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
The day of visitation is the day of judgment. We are to live our lives in the light of the coming of Christ and the judgment to come: Live in such a way that, even though they give you a hard time now because of your faith in Christ, in that great day they will have to admit your life was above reproach.
4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. The coming judgment is a regular them of the apostles.
4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
The end of all things is at hand, is near. I admit, it is so easy to get caught up with the now. Going to work, days off, vacation, planning for next year, college for your children, retirement…we can easily lose ourselves in the cares of this life. But the Gospel tells us not only the end of all things is coming, it is at hand! We need to be sober and watch unto prayer.
4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
The Christian life is a totally supernatural life: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings – this is not natural. The natural reaction is to grumble, complain, even whine. But the apostle says, Rejoice. What helps us maintain this attitude is, when his glory shall be revealed. Amen. Jesus is coming and things will change.
That . . . ye may be glad also with exceeding joy – we have joy now, unspeakable and full of glory; if we can rejoice now in trials, tribulations, as well as sufferings, imagine the joy of his presence, His glory, His approbation of our living and suffering for Him with joy and longsuffering and patience through the trials and afflictions of this life!
What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
When I look upon His face,
The one who saved me by His grace
5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Peter says two things about the coming of Christ
When the chief Shepherd shall appear – the second coming is personal and visible. Unbelievers have mocked and reviled for centuries, "Where is their God?" The day is coming when Jesus shall appear and every eye shall see him.
The glory that shall be revealed – the brightness of His glory; but also the glory of His kingdom. “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.”
and two things about what we can expect at this coming
we are partaker of the glory that shall be revealed - And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ
ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away – this is addressed to the elders who exercise their oversight properly.
What a hope we have! In fact, Peter begins his epistle by calling it a lively hope. Messiah has come. He was suffered for us, he rose again and ascended into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father. And He is coming again. This same Jesus, born of a virgin, who taught and performed miracles, who was crucified, who rose again, this same Jesus will again appear and bring glory and salvation.
“Don’t you dare quit. You. Keep. Holding on!”
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